Jan. 12, 2008

Box Score

Hampton, Va. - Micheal Freeman led four Hampton players in double figures as the Pirates used superior depth and 3-point shooting to defeat Bethune-Cookman 65-53 Saturday night.

Despite playing with just eight (8) players on the roster with two players suspended for a violation of team rules, the Wildcats of B-CU fought hard all night long against a 16-man HU roster.

Hampton (7-6, 2-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) outscored the Wildcats 24-6 from 3-point range, hitting 8-of-19. Overall, the Pirates shot 51 percent from the field to 37 percent for Bethune-Cookman (6-9, 1-1).

The Wildcats played hard for their head coach Clifford Reed, Jr., and he showed his appreciation by firing his team up with a technical foul early in the second half for disputing a call with an official. Reed was pumped up all night long as he and the Wildcats played inspired ball against the team predicted to finish atop the MEAC polls at the end of the campaign.

The Pirates also had a 23-2 advantage in scoring off the bench as only three reserves saw action for the Wildcats.

Freeman finished with 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting. Adrian Woodward, who was 4-of-7 on 3-pointers, added 14 points and Vincent Simpson added 13. Donte Harrison scored 10.

John Holmes led the Wildcats with 18 points and Jimmy Hudson added 12. For Holmes, it was the 11th time this season he has touched the double-digit scoring column.

Holmes had a favorable crowd in the stands for the Wildcats as his family from nearby Maryland made the trip down I-95 to see Holmes play. Maryland's own Kevan Creppy also had a large number of family in the stands for himself and the Maroon and Gold as well.

Bethune-Cookman's ohn Anderson had 11 rebounds. For Anderson, it was the first time this season he had touched the double-digit rebounding column.

The Wildcats will continue their northern road trip to the Nation's Capital of Washington, D.C. on Monday night with another MEAC affair against Howard University at 7:30 inside Burr Gymnasium. For the 'Cats, it will be the seventh road game in their last eight contests dating back to early December when they participated in the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic.

The trip will not end anytime soon as the 'Cats will not host another game inside Moore Gymnasium until Jan. 26. Prior to that, they will travel to Balimore, Md. next weekend for two more MEAC games against Coppin State and Morgan State.

For more information on B-CU men's basketball, please locate your internet browser to www.BCCathletics.com, the official home for all 17 B-CU Wildcats varsity sports.